Officer Hackert and Officer William Wilson were killed in an automobile as they and two other officers left the fair grounds. Their car was riding in the streetcar tracks but left the tracks near Van Buren and Snelling Streets. When they attempted to get back into the streetcar tracks the vehicle went out of control and struck a building. Officer Hackert and Officer Wilson were killed and the other two officers were injured when bricks and iron beams from the building fell onto the car.

Officer Hackert had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife, two children, and brother.